The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-14
PATRIOTISM.
What 1t Consists In and Why 1t Should be Cul.
rehabilitation of Few Notable Types.

DISQUALIFICATION of a Few Notable Types.
| A patriot is one who loves his country and
who will support and defend it and its interests.
! Patriotism is manifested in a government like
this in a multitude of ways. 1t may be shown
by zeal on the part of the citizen exercise his
rights at the ballot box. There is a vast differ
| ence between the ward politician. viz, hired
| thug to stand about election day and chal-
| lenge votes, and the patriot who knows bis
| rights and is determined to exercise them It
has well been said thar any indifference such
| induces citizen to fail to cast his vote is the
treason of republics. If a citizen has right to
vote. then there is correlative right on the part
| of society to compel him to cast that vote All
good citizens will be interested in politics in a
representative community, not as a politician
necessarily but he will be interested as a
| patriot To hold aloof from politics. Is to be
/ without public spirit it is to ally ones self to
| the dangerous classes. There is class of peo-
| pie in this country whose particular religious
beliefs sucn that they will not taKa part nor
| interest in politics During the late rebellion
| they were not allowed to volunteer in behalf of
! their country. They may not take an oath with
| out subj Getting themselves to church discipline
| Such a church Is menace to republics. No
matter how honest such people NAV be, no mat
! ter how consistent their lives may be from a
| They need to be enlightened: and if they
still refuse to take part in governmental affairs
| they should be treated very much as We would
| treat the Mormon. His whole aim is TO sub
! vert the government. Not that this class of
| people referred to Intentionally rebels but
| practically. shsy enemies of our country.
mediterranean the part of many good peo-
| pie is destructive of good government Thou
sands of our people remain away from the pri-
maries. and from the polls and from the places
where the character of officers and of laws
be decided, feeling that they too good to take
part in these things Others but little
about them. They feel that these matters will
be cared for without their presence This is all
wrong. The only way to have good officers is
for the better classes of people to see to it that
good men are nominated aud elected. Honest,
upright, and wise citizens must look after the
law making powers: they must see that laws are
properly formulated and that they are passed by
the legislative bodies. Our Republic will not
stand a sure foundation until the people
awakened and brought TO realize their duties in
these particulars.
1t is not pleasant thing to assist the surgeon
to amputate your friends limb. but it is duty
which you owe to your friend. 1t may not be a
pleasant thing for to take hold of political
matters sometimes and turn the rascals out"
but it is duty which we owe to our beloved
country. Mono but the coward, tn 9 drone or the
ignorant will refuse to DO this work. Again,
there times in the history of each nation
when her brave sons are called upon to go forth
and defend the nation good name, and to
serve her autonomy with therlives Those who
go forth from love of country are patriots. Life
is dear to most men, and he who will shoulder
die for his nation certainly lovesit and is worthy
of its respect. We must not cease to teach the
nobility and necessity of patriotism. Were it.not
for this instinc CT often in times of peace Ma
ton would fall. All three departments OK gov
ernment-egislative, executive and judicial
would become corrupt. The stars and stripes
would be diseraced; the secret of Samsons
strength would be discovered, and our Nation
would be ruined, without the instinct of patri-
otism.
The patriot will be independent We are
aware this is dangerous ground to take when
in the presence Of strong party men and
politicians. but it safe ground for the Republic
Whenever our municipal government becomes
corrupt, independent voters come forward and
revoutionZe affairs There instances in
the history of Chicago. Now York, Pittsburg
and even Indianapolis, where this has been
demonstrated How often we have seen rings
formed about court-h houses and corruption be-
coming notorious, but election came round
and the independent voters, like heroes. drove
that ring back into the outlying districts We
may be partisan so long party is right, but
when the party of our choice has left the paths
of rectitude, either in principle practice theu
it is not only our privilege but our duty to cor
rect existing evils. No modest man desires to
become notorious for excessive and unbecoming
independence on the one hand. nor does he
to sacrifice conscience the other.
Political parties a necessity. represent
alive government can not exist without them.
For individual voters to attempt to flock by
themselves on single or local issues is nonsense.
For few "holierthan-thou" people tn come up
with some hobby too narrow for pracii al people,
and hope immortaliZe themselves, ever
reaching for some mirage, is the height of fool
shness Minor differences must be wiped out
for the greater good
1t has often been said that he is poor patriot
who refuses to fight, because there rogues
in the army The patriot will attempt to do the
greatest good. He will have convictions and
the courage of his convictions.
One of the most dangerous men in the State
is the moral and political trimmer, and no
respects him. Sometimes it so hap ems that one
of this class, by sharp practice and intrigue be-
comes a candidate, but he has no true FRIENDS
aud place in the respect of the people AS
well could we have war without suffering; reli-
gion without sacrifce love without heart; wom-
without pride, a good citizen without indie
pendence, morality and courage. To take
stand moral and political questions they
become the issues of the day is to be either ig-
norant cowardly. Jefferson, Morton, Lincoln
ana douglas and sas their o
upon society and upon current thought.
William e. Gladstone. one of the most remarka-
BILE men in English history, is a splendid exam
pie of patriot. He is a of brains, moral
above suspicion. He is a scholar. a statesman,
a patriot, progressive and kird-hearted man,
the greatest man in England to-day. Young
would do we'll to keep such characters in
mind as a of type model Old DR.. With
erspoon, president of Princeton College. was
great scholar. Christian and patriot. He
sent his son to the front during the revolution.
He the author of many of tho
best features of our national Constitution.
Garfield was splendid example of the patriot
He was intelligent and brave. When his coun-
try called him, he volunteered to maintain it's
in tegrity. Every act OF his in the legislative
hall marked with candor. uprightness and
love of country He was Americas best type Of
a good citizen. H. V. HUNTER
Prevention of Sea Sickness.
Boston Globe.
Briefly written the prescription reads: BE
easy, be more than easy, be lazy" The trouble